Read or Summarize 1 Samuel 1
(Our summary)
Elkanah had 2 wives, Hannah and Peninnah. Peninnah was able to have children, but Hannah could not. Sometimes, people made Hannah feel bad because she couldn’t have any children. Hannah stopped eating and cried a lot. Hannah prayed to Heavenly Father and begged Him for a son. She promised God that if she could have a son, she would give him unto the Lord and he would serve God all of the days of his life. Eli, a priest in the temple, witnessed Hannah’s prayer. She was saying her prayer in her heart, so only her lips moved. Eli asked her if she was drunk. Hannah replied that she was very sad, but that she was not drunk. She told him that she was pouring her soul before the Lord. (Remember this statement, because we will talk about it more later). Eli told her that if she would have peace, God would answer her prayer.
After Hannah’s prayer, she was happy again, and began to eat. God blessed Hannah with a son, she named Samuel. When Samuel was a toddler, Hannah sent him to the temple to begin serving God.
Discuss
When Eli approached Hannah, he asked her if she was drunk. In 1 Samuel 1:15, we read, “And Hannah answered and said, no, my lord I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the Lord.” What do you think she meant by “poured out my soul before the Lord”?
Activity
Get a pitcher of water, and a bowl. Tell your children that the water in the pitcher represents their deepest desires and needs. The bowl represents the blessings that come from prayers. Even though Heavenly Father already knows what you need and want, Heavenly Father loves it when you ask Him in sincere prayer for it. (Pour a little water into the bowl) if you only give a little bit of trust and a little bit of sincerity to the Lord, do you think He’ll be able to bless you with as much? He might be able to bless you with some things, but if you are not willing to give your whole soul to the Lord, you will not be ready to receive all of the blessings that the Lord can give you. (Pour the rest of the water.) As you can see, when you pour your whole soul unto the Lord and let Heavenly Father know that you trust Him with your prayers and your deepest feelings, He is able to fill your life with the blessings that you seek, and with more than you can imagine. Did you know that when Hannah poured her whole soul to the Lord and promised to give her son to Him, Heavenly Father blessed her with Samuel, and after Samuel was born, Hannah kept her promise by giving him to the Lord, the Lord blessed Hannah with five more children?
Discussion
How can we change our family and personal prayers to more of a pouring out of our souls before the Lord?
Possible Answers
Think about what you say- Ponder about the things that you truly want or need. Ponder on the faith that you have that these prayers will be answered.
Remember that you are speaking to Heavenly Father- Prayers are not just something you say so that you could start your day, eat, go to bed, or leave the house. Heavenly Father is your father. Be excited to talk to Him. Share with Him how you feel. Share with Him what makes you happy, what makes you sad, and/or something you really need or want.
When you pray, remember to kneel down or sit still, fold your arms, close your eyes and bow your head. It is easier to offer a sincere prayer when you are reverent and aren’t distracted by other things and/or other people.
Click the picture below to see how we did this lesson
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